NAUTICAL REMARKS. 
647 
others that calms and unsettled weather prevail. At such times avoid getting into the bay 
between Otaheite and Tyraboo, especially on the south-west side of the island, as the swell 
rolls in heavily upon the shore, and there is no anchorage outside the reefs. 
Arrived within a few miles of the north-eastern part of Otaheite, several pomts covered 
with cocoa-nut trees will be seen stretching from the foot of the hills. One of these is Point 
Venus, and may be known by One-tree Hill, which, with the exception of the western 
extremity of the island, is the last blulF head-land upon this part of the coast. 
Matavai Bay, on the south-western side of Point Venus, may be considered a safe 
anchorage from April to December ; but during the remainder of the year the trade is liable 
to interruptions from westerly winds, which blow directly into Matavai, and occasion a high 
sea. The protection to the anchorage is afforded by Point Venus and the Dolphin shoal, 
a coral bank, with only two and a quarter fathoms upon its shallowest part. Between 
it and Point Venus there is a channel about fifty yards wide, with 17, 15, and 10 fathoms 
close to the reef; and by anchoring a boat on the edge of the shoal, a vessel may enter with 
perfect safety, provided the breeze be fair. It is, however, better to pass to the southward 
of the bank, which may be ascertained by two remarkable cocoa-nut trees in the E. N. E. 
being seen, to the southward of an European built house on the beach, bearing E. by N., and 
haul round it towards the anchorage, taking care not to get to leeward, so as to bring the 
N. E. bluff of One-tree Hill to bear to the southward of S. E., as there are several coral banks 
in that direction. Anchor in eight and a half or nine fathoms, mud, off old Pomarre’s house, 
taking care of the reef that lies off that part of the shore. 
To the westward of Matavai there are three good harbours, Papawa, Toanoa, and 
Papiete, of Mdiich the latter is the largest and the most frequented. The others, however, 
are the most healthy. The entrances to all are extremely narrow, and a stranger ought to 
take on board a pilot; but he should bear in mind that some of the persons who act in that 
capacity, though well acquainted with the channels, understand very little about navigating 
a vessel. 
Toanoa is four miles west of Matavai, and may be known by a remarkable ragged 
mountain, which will be seen through a deep valley when abreast of it. "When near, this 
ragged mountain is very conspicuous, and at night it is a good guide to the entrance. 
The channel into Toanoa is only three hundred and thirty yards wide; off the eastern 
side of the passage there is a rock iqjon which the sea sometimes breaks lying N. W. sixty 
fathoms from the breakers, and another on the inner side of the opposite reef. Neither of these 
rocks, however, narrow the channel much, and are only dangerous in the event of the wind 
breaking the ship off, or in rounding the reefs closely. With a fair wind sail boldly 
in, keeping mid-channel, and, clueing all up, allow the ship to shoot into a berth about two 
cables’ length from the shore in thirteen or fourteen fathoms. Here she must wait until the 
wind falls, and then tow into the harbour; or if the wind be off the land, set fore and aft sails, 
and keep the boats ready with lines in them. There are three channels to the inner harbour, 
of which the two south ones only are frequented, on account of the currents running strong 
through that to the northward. Perhaps the centre channel, though scarcely broader than a 
frigate, had better be used going in, and the south coming out. In the centre channel there 
are eight to twelve fathoms water; but in the southern one a shoal extends from the shore 
